Daily car journeys fell to lowest level yet on Easter Sunday
Car journeys were at 20 per cent of their usual levels on Easter Sunday, the lowest point yet according to new data
Daily car journeys hit their lowest level yet on Easter Sunday, at just 20 per cent of their usual levels.
Analysis of around 15,000 UK car journeys shows that the number of trips being undertaken is currently 60 per cent lower than usual on weekdays, 70 per cent down on Saturdays and as much as 80 per cent down on Sundays.
According to the figures from the AA, car journeys were at around half of their usual levels on Thursday 9 April, with pre-Easter food shopping thought to account for the 10 per cent rise that preceded the significant drop over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Daily journeys were at 20 per cent of their usual level on Easter Sunday, rising to just 30 per cent on Easter Monday.
Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “For the most part, families and car drivers respected the lockdown and didn’t revert to the usual Easter exodus, travelling to see friends or out into the country for exercise.
“Empty motorways were testament to car owners heeding government advice and not taking a holiday from the lockdown.
“Overall, we expected some increase in car journeys after the initial collapse as essential workers and volunteers took to the road again. However, the AA thinks that measures, such as police clamping down on cars parked at beauty spots away from where people live, may keep car journeys at their current low level for a while yet.
“Police have also said that although the roads are quieter, they have seen some excessive speeding. There is no excuse for speeding even if the roads and motorways are almost empty. Speeding has led to several crashes over the last few days which ties up the resources of the emergency services, the NHS and potentially takes up precious hospital beds.”
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